NY officials seek to rename Rochester Amtrak station after Slaughter

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) have called on Amtrak to rename its intermodal station in Rochester after the late U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter.

Slaughter (D-N.Y.) died last week after sustaining injuries from a fall at her home in Washington, D.C. She was 88 and in the midst of her 16th term representing upstate New York in Congress.

Slaughter was instrumental in securing federal funding for the Rochester Intermodal Station, a 9,500-square-foot facility that opened in October 2017 after a $44.3 million construction project.

"It is fitting that this shining example of Rochester's revitalization bear the name of a leader who was integral to making it happen," Cuomo said March 18 in an open letter to Amtrak President and Chief Executive Officer Richard Anderson.

The Rochester Intermodal Station opened in October 2017.

The station is a "symbol of the state's commitment to rebuilding its transportation infrastructure for the 21st century," said Cuomo, who noted that he and Slaughter together attended the station's opening last fall.

"Thanks to the congresswoman's tireless dedication to this project, Rochester finally has a train station of the caliber the region deserves," he said.

Meanwhile, the Rail Passengers Association last week issued a statement honoring Slaughter for her contribution to passenger-rail service.

"Congresswoman Slaughter was an ardent and vocal longtime supporter of passenger rail in Upstate New York and across the country," said Bruce Becker, the association's vice president of operations and former president of the Empire State Passengers Association. "She was instrumental in advancing the construction of a new Amtrak passenger station for her hometown of Rochester. The beautiful new facility, which opened last fall, is a testament to her vision for a modern and passenger-focused rail network."